African Pompano - Relationship To Humans

Relationship To Humans

The large size and good table fare offered by the African pompano have made the species popular with both recreational and commercial fishermen, although different sources rate the flesh quality differently. The species has been implicated in a number of ciguatera cases, suggesting larger fish should probably not be consumed. The attractive appearance of juveniles make them possible aquarium fish, but they do not survive well in captivity.

Adult African pompano are most often taken by hook-and-line methods, such as trolling although they do not often make up a high percentage of catches. Juveniles are occasionally taken by beach seines. The species is marketed fresh and as dried and salted.

The fighting prowess and good table fare attract anglers to the species in many parts of the world, with easily accessed areas such as Florida having a strong recreational fishery for the species, as well as more remote areas such as Thailand and a number of Pacific and Indian Ocean islands. Tackle for larger fish is more robust, with 50-lb line on a large overhead or threadline type reel used to prevent the fish from taking cover in underwater structures on their first run, especially on reefs and wrecks. Smaller fish are often taken on light tackle, often requiring a skilled angler to be able to land the fish in these situations. They can be caught on both bait and lures, with small live baitfish or large prawns the choice of baits rigged on strong gauge hooks. Lures are often jigs or streamers worked on deep reefs and wrecks, although they have been known to take a trolled lure or rigged bait. In rare cases, they have even been known to take saltwater flies on sinking lines and poppers at the surface.

The recognized record for a recreationally caught African pompano is 18.8 kg. In Florida, the species has a minimum size limit of 24 inches and only two fish are allowed per vessel per day.